2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission In tank fuel pump/sending unit

[AZTURBO]

I have a 1998 2500 w/ 12valve. Its a quad-cab shortbed. I have a fuel gauge issue. Most of the time the gauge reads empty, even after fueling up. then as I drive it may or may not raise to the current fuel level. Most of the time though it runs reading empty or bounces from empty to reading a fuel level. Does anyone else have or had this issue? If so, what fixed it? I have been looking for a source other than the dealer to purchase either a complete unit or just the sender. I have 317,000 miles on this truck since new. So my thought is to just replace the complete module.

 

[BarryG]

It sure sounds like the sender. If you do a search on here there are some threads regarding fixing it. The swing arm pivot point attachment is prone to failure. You can get or at least could get just the sending unit from the dealer. IIRC it was in the $50 range. A new module is expensive they used to run in the $300+ range for a complete module.

As far as another source you might try someplace like wholesalemopar or one of the other online dodge parts houses they can be significantly cheaper than the local dealer. You might also check with Vulcan Perfomance. They carry the liberty module with a drawstraw. Am unsure if it will work with a 12 valve though. I do remember that they only worked on 199x year and forward cant rememebr what year was the cutoff.

 

[DNDracing]

I had a 95 with the same issue at about 300K miles. When I pulled the in tank sending unit, some... not all... of the contacts on the potentiometer were worn down to nothing. So depending on where the float landed on the contacts, it would read fine, then drop to empty. It slowly got worse (started reading empty more often), so I replaced it. Hardest part of the job was dropping the tank, and breaking free the ring that holds the module in the tank. Michigan road salt had "welded" it in place pretty good.

I would start with the cheapest part first... the sending unit... which fixed the similar issue I had on my truck, and if that doesn't, try the module.

Good luck.